Always a good idea to say thank you

As a staff, we planned a thanksgiving day in recognition of new classrooms, hall, toilets and good results last year. But would many parents come? We don't really see many parents at school. The kids arrive and leave school alone each day. No one phones the school or picks their child up: there's no phone/electricity in school and very few vehicles in town. Maybe a few parents would come...

In reality, a kaleidoscope of colour marched towards school: hundreds of parents. Somehow, over a thousand people managed to sit or stand in our new hall, watching the children perform and then listening to about half a day's worth of speeches. It seemed as if anyone who had the ability to hold a microphone was up at the front at some point, sharing their thoughts. Like you do.

Some of the performances were amazing, but personally my attention was drawn to the scouts, who have been trained up by one of our new teachers. I used to march a bit myself as a member of the Boys' Brigade, you know... left, right, left, right. But what I saw in the hall was on a whole new level. Marshalled by a teenage commander, the troops flicked round effortlessly from one drill to the next, with an endless variety of combinations. Okay, I exaggerate, but still - this was intricate, impressive stuff. Frankly, it's a bit odd seeing Baden Powell's boys (and girls) going through the gears in the middle of the Kenyan desert, but who cares? The kids love it and I can't wait for the next time. Maybe we can invite Bear Grylls to see what he thinks?

 

 

And, of course, after the performances, the children could relax and enjoy themselves a little.